Queen Beatrix, center, sing a christmas carrol during the 50th anniversary celebration of Candles evening or 'Kaarsjesavond' at the historic market square in Gouda, the Netherlands, Tuesday Dec. 13, 2005. During Candles evening all the historic houses around the square are lit by candles

it's a bittersweet seeing all the Indonesian items, but it brings tears to me as the fact, the items (like stone statue, cow statue called 'lembu nani', etc) were probably taken from Indonesia, my country, during Dutch occupation.
they're now dutch properties though... :( :o
i saw some items that were displayed at amsterdam were also displayed in Jakarta during Indonesian-Dutch Bilateral Cultural Exhibition several months ago.

Queen Beatrix, center, sing a christmas carrol during the 50th anniversary celebration of Candles evening or 'Kaarsjesavond' at the historic market square in Gouda, the Netherlands, Tuesday Dec. 13, 2005. During Candles evening all the historic houses around the square are lit by candles

from polfoto

I love her cape/wrap. it's gorgeous. so perfect for the occasion and so befitting for a queen.

i just heard that the queen will have her surgery befor the end of the year and that is why she can not attend the newyears eve reception at the palace. Princess maxima en prince willem alexander will be the hosts for that party.